St Francis College Vs Hermitage House Annual Sports Meeting

The annual sports meeting, a two day tradition of sports and comradeship between these two schools took place on Friday and Saturday 19 and 20th May this year with the school teams challenging each other to hockey, netball and rugby as well chess.

Headmaster of St Francis College (SFC), Franzl Bause described how the annual fixture came into being. “Mr Hilton Keeton, present Headmaster of Hermitage House, and I have a long standing friendship which started out in 2007 when we were first cricket team coaches; Hilton at Kingswood Prep in Grahamstown and myself at Cordwalles Prep in Pietermaritzburg. Hilton and SFC’s former headmaster, Alan Campbell (2010 – 2015) agreed on this fixture and when I took over from Alan, we vowed to continue the tradition. So we now have a winter sport fixture every year hosted by SFC, and this year we will return for a senior primary summer tour to Addo on 20 and 21 October to play boys and girls tennis and cricket matches.”

Ten mini hockey games were played with the SFC winning seven and Hermitage House three. On the netball court, SFC won the Under 8 and Under 9 matches after losing all the matches last year, and the U13A put up a gallant effort losing 6-14. On the rugby fields, the Under 13 seven a side game was won by SFC 30 – 5 while the Under 9 ‘Bulletjies’ match was a 25-25 draw.

The chess hall was a popular gathering point for those waiting for their turn on the fields. Many games were played and it seems Hermitage House had the edge

On the Saturday morning, the senior hockey (boys and girls combined teams) on Saturday, the Hermitage House under 11 team won 1-0 in their first game and drew the second 1-1. However, the two SFC U13 teams beat Hermitage House U13 team 6-0 and 7-1 respectively.

“Both schools did our tradition proud this year and are to be congratulated,” said Bause. “Such is the tradition that long after the scores have been forgotten, lifelong comradeship will have been forged between the pupils of both schools.”

The Under 12 rugby teams played to a 10-10 draw. They are seen here with Mr Rob Clarke – coach for Hermitage House, and SFC coaches, Mr Waldo Kapp and Mr Franzl Bause.

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Public meetings to introduce Kouga’s new municipal valuers

With the compilation of Kouga’s new General Valuation Roll set to commence in July 2017, four public meetings have been arranged to explain the process to property owners.

Kouga Executive Mayor Elza van Lingen said the meetings have been set for June.

“Property owners will have the opportunity to meet the new valuers and to interact with them regarding the valuation process to be followed,” she said.

The two valuators will be wearing identity tags in the interest of security

“The new General Valuation Roll will determine how much property owners will be expected to pay for rates and taxes from the 2018/2019 financial year. We would, therefore, like to encourage them to attend the meetings as the outcomes of the process will affect everyone.”

Van Lingen said the new roll would be finalised and advertised for objections by 31 January 2018.

The public meetings will start at 18:30 and have been scheduled as follows:

* On Monday, 12 June, the first meeting will be held at the Newton Hall in Jeffreys Bay. The meeting will focus on the Jeffreys Bay area, including, Aston Bay, Marina Martinique, Pellsrus, Mandela Bay, Tokyo Sexwale, Ocean View and Paradise Beach.

* The second meeting will be held at the Katrien Felix Hall at Thornhill on Tuesday, 13 June. The focus will be on Thornhill, Loerie, Hankey, Patensie, Gamtoos, Crossways, farms in the Hankey and Patensie areas, as well as those Uitenhage farms that fall under Kouga’s jurisdiction.

* On Wednesday, 14 June, a meeting will be held at the Humansdorp Country Club for Humansdorp town and surrounds, including, Kruisfontein, KwaNomzamo, Vergenoeg, Vaaldam and farms in the Humansdorp area.

* The fourth and final meeting will take place on Thursday, 15 June, at the St Francis Links Clubhouse. The focus areas will be St Francis Bay, the St Francis Links, Kromme River, Sea Vista, Cape St Francis and Oyster Bay.

DDP Valuers has been contracted to conduct the valuations for the new roll. Information about them will be available on the municipal website

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Data collectors start gathering info for new General Valuation Roll

The official municipal valuers will be collecting preparatory data in Kouga towns for new General Valuation Roll from 24 May to mid-June 2017.

Kouga Executive Mayor Elza van Lingen said the data collection would lay the groundwork for the compilation of the new General Valuation Roll for the period 2018 to 2023.

“There will be two data collectors taking photographs of properties. They might also have to enter some houses,” she said. “We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, however, these preparations are important if we are to compile a credible valuation roll.”

The two valuators will be wearing identity tags in the interest of security

She said DDP Valuers had been awarded the tender to compile the new roll. The data collectors are Tjaart Venter and Bernardt de Klerk.

“They will be wearing identity tags in the interest of security,” the Mayor said. “However, if someone knocks on your door and you are not certain if it really is them, we ask that you call our Valuations Department at 042 200 8543 or 042 200 2157 so as to verify their identities before allowing them access to your premises.”

She said the draft valuation roll would be table to Council by the end of January 2018. Property owners will then be informed of the new valuation of their property and will have the opportunity to object should they believe the valuation is incorrect.

The new valuations will determine how much property owners pay for rates from July 2018. Properties will be valued according to their market value as at 1July 2017.

A series of public meetings will also be held in June to introduce the valuers and valuation process to property owners.

The public meetings will start at 18:30 and have been scheduled as follows:

On Monday, 12 June, the first meeting will be held at the Newton Hall in Jeffreys Bay.

The second meeting will be held at the Katrien Felix Hall at Thornhill on Tuesday, 13 June.

On Wednesday, 14 June, a meeting will be held at the Humansdorp Country Club.

The fourth and final meeting will take place on Thursday, 15 June, at the St Francis Links Clubhouse

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Clean Sweep for SA as All Four Men Advance at World Surfing Games

The South African surfing team built on the momentum from team captain Bianca Buitendag’s medal performance in the women’s event when all four men advanced to Round 2 of the 2017 ISA World Surfing Games taking place at Grand Plage in Biarritz, France.

A slight increase in swell size on Tuesday provided waves in the waist to chest high range and the onshore wind did not deter the South Africans from producing top class performances against their opponents from 47 other nations at the annual ‘Olympics’ of surfing.

Vice-captain Dylan Lightfoot (Jeffreys Bay) led the way for his teammates by finishing runner-up just behind two-time (2004 & 2010) ISA world champion Hira Terinatoofa (Tahiti) in his opening encounter of the event in the tiny waves on Monday.

Debutant Brandon Benjamin (Steenberg, Cape Town) overcame his nerves in his first appearance representing his country by also grabbing the runner-up spot in his Round 1 heat, relegating the vastly experienced Marcus Selman (Chile) to the Repecharge round.

“Amped to surf one of my biggest heats of my career today,” was Benjamin’s comment on his Facebook page before his heat. “First round nerves out the window, thanks for the support,” he commented after advancing.

David van Zyl (Glenashley, Durban) took to the waves four heats later and used all his progressive aerial skills in the crumbling waves to post a heat victory over surfers from Spain and Chile.

David Van Zyl (Glenashley) displays the progressive surfing that earned him victory in his opening heat at the 2017 ISA World Surfing Games in Biarritz, France – Photo: ISA / Reed

The vociferous South African team, whose use of Vuvuzelas in both the opening ceremonies and to support their teammates while they are competing drew favourable mentions from the event commentators, was then rewarded for their patience when Shane Sykes Salt Rock) completed the clean sweep by winning the last heat of the day.

The first ISA World Surfing Games to be staged since it was announced last year that the sport will be included in the Japan 2020 Olympic Games has attracted a record 243 competitors from 47 nations, many of whom are participating at an international event for the first time.

Newcomer nations such as Afghanistan, Greece, Senegal, Chinese Taipei and China got their chance to show the world the great leaps of growth that their non-traditional surfing nations have experienced in recent years, and especially since the inclusion of surfing in the Olympic Games.

The event runs until Sunday 28 May and the four South African men will be aiming to advance through another five rounds of competition to reach the final and claim a gold, silver, bronze or copper medal to add to the copper won by Buitendag on Monday.

The South African team is supported by Mercedes Benz South Africa, Buffalo City Municipality, the National Lotteries Commission and Sport and Recreation South Africa. Travel arrangements were made by All Aboard Travel.

About Surfing South Africa

Surfing South Africa is the recognized governing body for the sport and is a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and the International Surfing Association (ISA). All South African surfing teams that participate in international events are chosen by the National Selectors and in terms of the SSA Constitution all national teams are ratified by the Board of Directors of Surfing South Africa.